DURHAM -- Even without a lawsuit being filed, a $1.2 million insurance settlement was finalized this week for a Durham man and wife who were severely injured in a collision on U.S. 15-501.
The settlement for Ron and Sandra Trenta was reached in mediation involving their lawyer, Philip Mullins of Durham, and attorneys for Zurich North American Insurance Co., CNA Insurance Companies and Gallagher Bassett Insurance Corp.
Mullins said the accident occurred on Feb. 19, 2004, when an Atlantic Supply truck attempted to turn left across an oncoming lane of traffic and collided with the Trentas' pickup truck.
The Trentas were rushed by ambulance to the nearest emergency room at Person County Memorial Hospital, then life-flighted to the Duke trauma center in Durham because of their extensive injuries. Both had multiple rib fractures and broken pelvic bones, and Sandra suffered a heart attack in the trauma center.
"I know that Sandy would have died if it weren't for Duke," her husband said. "They did an incredible job putting us back together. That sounds funny now, but it's serious. We each had over 15 fractures. We were really in bad shape. ... "
"Their injuries are permanent and life-changing," Mullins said of the Trentas. "The Trentas' long-term retirement goals have been destroyed. They are in their early 60s. In the years before the crash, they had been traveling throughout the United States, going from fair to fair while operating a crafts stand and concession stand. ? However, due to this collision and their permanent injuries, they have had to alter their goals, lifestyle and activities accordingly.
"Ron and Sandy were devastated by the injuries from this wreck," Mullins added. "Many of their medical providers even told us they were surprised they both survived. ... I have been humbled in watching this family pull themselves together, adjust their goals and move forward with a positive outlook on life."
"In this situation on that day, the trucker was most definitely very careless. ..." according to Mullins. "In this situation, I don't think anyone looking at his driving record would encourage any trucking company to hire this man to drive a large commercial truck. His driving record speaks for itself. His lack of attention nearly killed Ron and Sandy Trenta."
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